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Book before March 31, 2014, to travel anytime in 2014, and save 20% on the recommended retail price.
See the best of Doge's Palace in Venice on a 2-hour skip-the-line tour! With a priority-access ticket, you won't waste time standing in line. Walk right past the long queue with your guide, and enjoy a tour that combines the palace's magnificent public rooms with rare access to the Piombi attic prison and the Bridge of Sighs. See Italian Renaissance artwork and learn about the darker deeds of the city's former rulers on this Doge's Palace tour with a difference!
Highlights
- 2-hour guided Doge's Palace tour with skip-the-line entrance ticket
- Tour the beautiful public rooms and see Renaissance artwork by Tintoretto and Veronese
- Learn about the doges of Venice, who ruled the city for a thousand years
- Enjoy exclusive access to the Piombi attic prison, where Casanova was once held
- Walk across the Bridge of Sighs to explore the New Prisons
Recent Photos of this Tour
Skip the Line: Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Tour
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Inside outView from inside the Bridge of Sighs.Photo by: Cheryl P
01 2014 -
Sunrise at the Doge's PalaceWalking around the corner of the palace to meet the morning tour.Photo by: Cheryl P
01 2014 -
VeniceJust one view from the PalacePhoto by: Michelle M
09 2013 -
View from the Bridge Of SighsWalking from the Doges Palace to the new prisons, passing across the Bridge of Sighs as the prisoners would have done ...Photo by: linda
08 2013 -
Inside the Bridge of Sighs!Walking from the Doge's Palace to the Prisons!Photo by: rosebuds63
07 2013 -
The Golden StaircasePhotos can't do this justice!Photo by: rosebuds63
07 2013 -
Doge's ParadiseInside the CourtyardPhoto by: rosebuds63
07 2013 -
View of the canals from the ...Doge's Palace TourPhoto by: Dino D
05 2013 -
Bridge of SighsView from the bridge of sighsPhoto by: Marcus H
10 2012 -
IMG_0487One of the statuesPhoto by: Marcus H
10 2012 -
IMG_0448Patio AreaPhoto by: Marcus H
10 2012 -
Our GuideOur fantastic guide providing us with some useful information!Photo by: Marcus H
10 2012 -
Summer 12 in VeniceStanding in front of the Doges PalacePhoto by: Scott F
USA, 08 2012 -
Doge's Palace Secret ...Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries TourPhoto by: Anonymous
08 2012 -
Doge's Palace Secret ...Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries TourPhoto by: Anonymous
08 2012 -
Doge's Palace Secret ...Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries TourPhoto by: Anonymous
08 2012 -
Doge's Palace Secret ...Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries TourPhoto by: Anonymous
08 2012 -
Doge's Palace Secret ...Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries TourPhoto by: Anonymous
08 2012 -
Doge's Palace Secret ...Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries TourPhoto by: Anonymous
08 2012 -
Doge's Palace Secret ...Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries TourPhoto by: Anonymous
08 2012 -
What You Can Expect
See the Bridge of Sighs at Doge's Palace
Your tour begins at St Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), from where you'll stroll over to the elegant Doge’s Palace with your expert guide. Conveniently, your skip-the-line Doge’s Palace tickets offer fast-track entrance, so you'll walk straight past the long lines outside.
Easily Venice's most famous building, Doge’s Palace (or Palazzo Ducalo in Italian) is a mesmerizing example of Venetian Gothic architecture at its finest. Created in the 14th century for the doges of Venice, the rulers of the former Venetian Republic, the palace contains elaborately decorated public rooms alongside darker hidden chambers.
Start your 2-hour Doge’s Palace tour by exploring these ornate public rooms, where you'll see how the successive doges made their palace even more impressive with art by 15th-century Italian Renaissance artists. Gaze at Tintoretto's magnificent ceiling frescos, and see Veronese masterpieces such as the Virtues of the Republic. As you walk through the Trial Chambers of the Council of Ten, your guide will point out the vibrant ceiling panel, Juno Bestowing her Gifts on Venice, and the room's dark corner where accusations of treachery were passed to the secret service.
Next, it’s on to the Piombi, the ancient attic prison that traditionally held Venice's upper-class inmates under a lead-cased roof. The Piombi is rarely open to members of the public; enjoy an exclusive walk around these eerie chambers, and see where Casanova, Venice's legendary lover, was cruelly imprisoned.
By the 16th century, the attic prison cells were replaced by the New Prisons, although these horrifying chambers hardly fit the name by today's standards! The New Prisons were joined to Doge’s Palace by the Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri), named to signify the prisoners’ sighs as they caught their last glimpse of beautiful Venice. You'll walk across the Bridge of Sighs independently and explore the New Prisons at leisure before your tour ends.
Easily Venice's most famous building, Doge’s Palace (or Palazzo Ducalo in Italian) is a mesmerizing example of Venetian Gothic architecture at its finest. Created in the 14th century for the doges of Venice, the rulers of the former Venetian Republic, the palace contains elaborately decorated public rooms alongside darker hidden chambers.
Start your 2-hour Doge’s Palace tour by exploring these ornate public rooms, where you'll see how the successive doges made their palace even more impressive with art by 15th-century Italian Renaissance artists. Gaze at Tintoretto's magnificent ceiling frescos, and see Veronese masterpieces such as the Virtues of the Republic. As you walk through the Trial Chambers of the Council of Ten, your guide will point out the vibrant ceiling panel, Juno Bestowing her Gifts on Venice, and the room's dark corner where accusations of treachery were passed to the secret service.
Next, it’s on to the Piombi, the ancient attic prison that traditionally held Venice's upper-class inmates under a lead-cased roof. The Piombi is rarely open to members of the public; enjoy an exclusive walk around these eerie chambers, and see where Casanova, Venice's legendary lover, was cruelly imprisoned.
By the 16th century, the attic prison cells were replaced by the New Prisons, although these horrifying chambers hardly fit the name by today's standards! The New Prisons were joined to Doge’s Palace by the Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri), named to signify the prisoners’ sighs as they caught their last glimpse of beautiful Venice. You'll walk across the Bridge of Sighs independently and explore the New Prisons at leisure before your tour ends.
Customer Reviews
January 2014
Alessandra was a wonderful tour guide, we really enjoyed her knowledge, company and extra suggestions. Highly recommended. Love Rob and Stefan
January 2014
A wonderful tour guide who knew everything about the Doge's palace. Our four children were also mesmerised by what was on display and the background information on offer.
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